International Co-Production Deal Kicks Off With Three New Lifetime Original

Movies: "True Confessions of A Hollywood Starlet" Starring JoJo and Valerie

Bertinelli; "Queen Sized" Starring Nikki Blonsky; and "Wisegal" Starring

Alyssa Milano and Jason Gedrick

    LOS ANGELES, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifetime Networks is partnering
 with Starz Media to co-produce three Lifetime Original Movies, which will
 air in 2008, featuring high-profile casts and compelling, mass-appeal
 stories. The announcement of this important deal for both companies was
 made today by Susanne Daniels, President, Entertainment, Lifetime Networks
 and Kent Rice, President and COO of Starz Media.
     This is Lifetime's second major international co-production deal,
 following the April announcement of its partnership with French broadcaster
 TF-1 International to produce and distribute three original television
 movies for worldwide release. For Starz Media, it's a continuation of the
 new studio's expansion into top-quality primetime movies, and marks a new
 production partner along with ABC, SCI FI Network, Cartoon Network, BET and
 Starz Entertainment, among others.
     Starz Media will handle worldwide distribution of the titles, including
 home entertainment through its Anchor Bay Entertainment.
     Since 1990, Lifetime has produced 184 Lifetime Original Movies. Ranked
 #1 in primetime households and total viewers among this year's original
 basic cable movies, Lifetime Original Movies received two 2007 Emmy Award
 nominations, with "Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy" garnering a nod
 for Outstanding Made for Television Movie and Gena Rowlands for Outstanding
 Actress in "What if God Were the Sun?"
     "This is a truly innovative deal that has tremendous value for Lifetime
 and Starz. We hope to be making more deals like this in the future," said
 Daniels. Adding, "Thanks to Joey Plager and Arturo Interian, our VPs of
 Original Movies, and Debbie Stasson, our business affairs consultant, as
 they were both keenly instrumental in executing this deal on behalf of
 Lifetime."
     "We are committed to partnering with major television networks to
 produce and distribute audience-pleasing programming, and this new deal
 with Lifetime is certainly an outstanding example of that," Rice said.
 "With these three movies, we have terrific performers, strong scripts and
 talented production crews. Coupled with a world-class brand like Lifetime,
 we anticipate great success with this alliance."
     "TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A HOLLYWOOD STARLET"
     Multi-platinum recording artist JoJo ("RV," "Aquamarine") and Golden
 Globe(R) Award-Winning actress Valerie Bertinelli ("One Day at a Time,"
 "Touched By An Angel") are set to star in the amusing Lifetime Original
 Movie "True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet," the story of a superstar
 teen actress whose life is turned upside down when she is sent to live
 incognito with her aunt in the suburbs after a stint in rehab and must
 adjust to life out of the spotlight. The movie, based on a novel of the
 same name by Lola Douglas, will be directed by actor/director Tim Matheson
 (Lifetime's "Augusta, Gone"). "True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet"
 will premiere in 2008 on Lifetime Television.
     In "True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet," 17-year-old actress
 Morgan Carter (JoJo) has it all - money, fame and thousands of adoring
 fans. But her world comes crashing down after she passes out on the red
 carpet of her movie premiere from alcohol poisoning. Morgan is quickly
 whisked away to rehab but speculation about her substance abuse problem
 tarnishes her image and keeps the press at her heels. Afraid that returning
 to Hollywood would lead to a relapse in her partying ways and result in the
 demise of her career, Morgan's mother and manager devise a plan for Morgan
 to live with her offbeat Aunt Trudy (Bertinelli) in Indiana, where she can
 recover without the flashing bulbs of the paparazzi and celebrity bloggers
 writing about her every move.
     Assuming the name "Claudia Miller" while attending a local high school,
 she goes unrecognized by her fellow students. Morgan must now adjust to
 life as a typical teenager, living on a limited budget and taking geometry
 and gym classes while making some new friends outside of her usual
 celebrity circle.
     "True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet" is produced by Barbara
 Lieberman Productions for Lifetime Television. Starz Media's executives in
 charge of the production are Scott D. Greenberg and Karen Bailey. Barbara
 Lieberman (Lifetime's "Murder in the Hamptons") and Jon Maas ("The Last
 Debate") serve as executive producers. Phil Kleinbart (Lifetime's "Augusta
 Gone") serves as the supervising producer and Mark Winemaker ("The Path to
 9/11") will produce. Matheson directs from a script written by Elisa Bell
 ("Little Black Book").
     "QUEEN SIZED"
     Following her starring role in the summer blockbuster "Hairspray,"
 rising young actress Nikki Blonsky has signed on to star in the Lifetime
 Original Movie, "Queen Sized," the inspirational true story of an
 overweight teen who takes a stand against bullying, to become her school's
 homecoming queen, and ends up with much more than just a crown. "Queen
 Sized" will premiere Saturday, January 5, 2008, 9PM (ET/PT) on Lifetime
 Television.
     In "Queen Sized," overweight high school senior Maggie Baker (Blonsky),
 always felt sorry for herself for not being as skinny, pretty or wealthy as
 the popular girls at school. When Maggie's name ends up on the list of
 nominees for the homecoming court as a prank by her classmates, she is
 mortified. Rather than drop out as expected, Maggie chooses to stay on the
 ballot in order to represent all the "outcasts" at school. As word of her
 courageousness spreads, Maggie becomes a local celebrity and a symbol for
 all those who are bullied in high school. But when Maggie's newfound fame
 goes to her head -- the kids who stood by her, including her best friend
 Casey -- begin to resent her. Maggie is forced to take a long hard look at
 herself and reevaluate what battle she is truly fighting.
     "Queen Sized" is produced by Von Zerneck-Sertner Films for Lifetime
 Television. Starz Media's executives in charge of the production are Scott
 D. Greenberg and Karen Bailey. Bob Sertner (Lifetime's "Girl Positive," "We
 Were the Mulvaneys") and Frank Von Zerneck (Lifetime's "Haunting Sarah,"
 "For One Night") serve as executive producers. Peter Levin ("Homeless to
 Harvard: The Liz Murray Story") will direct the movie from a script by
 Rodney Johnson.
     "WISEGAL"
     Alyssa Milano ("Charmed," "Who's the Boss?") and Jason Gedrick
 ("Desperate Housewives," "Windfall") are set to star in the Lifetime
 Original Movie "Wisegal," a stirring drama inspired by the true story of
 Patty Montanari, a woman who became a trusted confidant to the Mafia, only
 to confront the heartbreaking reality that her romantic entanglement put
 her children in jeopardy. The movie will be executive produced by Joe
 Pistone, the real FBI agent who infiltrated the mob, and whose life was the
 basis for the 1997 movie "Donnie Brasco," starring Al Pacino and Johnny
 Depp. "Wisegal" will premiere in 2008 on Lifetime Television.
     In "Wisegal," Patty Montanari (Milano) is a widow supporting her two
 young sons by selling contraband cigarettes. She soon begins a torrid love
 affair with Frank Russo (Gedrick), a captain in a Brooklyn crime family.
 The family Don, impressed with Patty's moxie, convinces her to work for the
 organization - at great personal risk - as a courier transporting millions
 of dollars from Canada into the United States. When Patty discovers that
 Frank has murdered his own son, she realizes he is capable of doing
 anything - and fears she may be his next victim.
     "Wisegal" is produced by Daniel H. Blatt Productions for Lifetime
 Television. Starz Media's executives in charge of the production are Scott
 D. Greenberg and Karen Bailey. Executive producers are Daniel H. Blatt
 ("The Virginian," "Bad Apple"), Joe Pistone, ("Donnie Brasco," "10th &
 Wolf"), Leo Rossi ("10th & Wolf," "Relentless"), Anthony Melchiorri, and
 Danielle McVickers ("Saving Millie," "When Angels Come to Town") is
 co-producer. Jerry Ciccoritti (Lifetime's "Murder in the Hamptons," "La
 Femme Nikita") directs from a script written by Shelley Evans (Lifetime's
 "A Girl Life Me: The Gwen Araujo Story").
     About Starz Media:
     Starz Media, LLC, is a programming production and distribution company
 operating worldwide. It includes the Film Roman, Anchor Bay Entertainment,
 and Manga Entertainment brands. Its units create animated and live-action
 programming -- including theatrical films -- and programming created under
 contract for other media companies. It distributes that programming, and
 programming acquired from outside producers, through home video retailers,
 theaters, broadcasters, ad supported and premium television channels, and
 Internet and wireless video distributors in the US and internationally.
 Starz Media is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a wholly owned
 subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation that is attributed to Liberty
 Capital Group.
     About Lifetime:
     LIFETIME is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated
 basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, LIFETIME
 is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information
 programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and
 their families. LIFETIME Television, LMN, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime
 Digital (including LifetimeTV.com) are part of LIFETIME Entertainment
 Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt
 Disney Company.
 
 

SOURCE Lifetime Networks